Zhongpin Inc. Enters Into Merger Agreement For "Going Private" Transaction

The merger, which is currently expected to close in the first quarter of 2013, is subject to the adoption of the Merger Agreement by an affirmative vote of (i) stockholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Company common stock and (ii) stockholders holdings at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock other than shares owned by Parent, Merger Sub, the Rollover Holders or any of their respective affiliates at a special meeting of the Company's stockholders which will be convened to consider the adoption of the Merger Agreement, as well as certain other customary closing conditions. The merger agreement may be terminated under certain circumstances, including, among others, termination by mutual agreement of the parties or by either party if the merger is not consummated on or before November 26, 2013.  In addition, the Company (acting upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) may terminate the Merger Agreement at any time for any reason on or prior to January 25, 2013 as set forth in the Merger Agreement. Mr. Xianfu Zhu and the other Rollover Holders have agreed under a voting agreement to vote all of the shares of Company common stock owned by them (which, as of the date of the Merger Agreement, comprises an aggregate of approximately 26% of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock) in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement. If completed, the merger will, under Delaware law, result in the Company becoming a privately-held company, wholly-owned by Parent. Following the merger, the Company's common stock will no longer be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is serving as United States legal advisor to the Special Committee and O'Melveny & Myers LLP is serving as United States legal advisor to the Company. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as United States legal advisor to the buyer group. Credit Suisse is serving as financial advisor to the buyer group.

Additional Information about the Merger

The Company will furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC") a report on Form 8-K regarding the proposed merger, which will include the Merger Agreement. All parties desiring details regarding the proposed merger are urged to review these documents, which will be available at the SEC's website ( http://www.sec.gov).

In connection with the proposed merger, the Company will prepare and mail a proxy statement to its stockholders. In addition, certain participants in the proposed merger will prepare and mail to the Company's stockholders a Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement. These documents will be filed with or furnished to the SEC. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THESE MATERIALS AND OTHER MATERIALS FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. In addition to receiving the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement by mail, stockholders also will be able to obtain these documents, as well as other filings containing information about the Company, the proposed merger and related matters, without charge, from the SEC's website ( http://www.sec.gov) or at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition, these documents can be obtained, without charge, by contacting the Company at the following address and/or telephone number:

Zhongpin Inc. 21 Changshe Road, Changge City Henan Province, People's Republic of China[phone]

The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from our stockholders with respect to the proposed merger. Information regarding the persons who may be considered "participants" in the solicitation of proxies will be set forth in the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement relating to the proposed merger when it is filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement and the other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available.

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